Christ Church, Glendale

Christ Church Glendale was founded on the city’s highest hill in 1865, with the current stone church built in 1868. The altar originally sat under what is now the rear window, with the pews facing East. In the 1910’s the chancel and bell tower were added, and we now face the altar at the West end. The bell tower features a “chime” of 17 cast bronze bells, controlled electronically. At the front of the nave, next to the Annunciation Altar is a beautiful Tiffany stained glass window. The Victory Window above the altar, and the rest of the stained glass was made by noted artist Charles Connick. Pise Chapel, located just off the nave, was built as a parish house in 1880. It serves as a worship space for the weekly Wednesday healing service and smaller weddings and funerals. Olivia House was built in 1891 and serves as a dining room and gathering space. A large model railroad layout sits on the top floor of this building. The Roosevelt/Moller organ, originally installed here in 1915, was built in 1876 for New York’s Chickering Hall. Some of the ranks of that organ play in the new Casavant organ. In 2014, a major construction project added the Chapel of the Holy Spirit (Fisk Op. 146), All Saints’ Hall, office space, the choir room and classrooms. 

The previous organ in the nave had deteriorated to a point where significant restoration was required. Unfortunately, many stops had been discarded and replaced with brighter sounding pipes over the years—including most of the reeds. The saddest change happened in the 1970’s when the massive Open Wood stop (16 ½” x 15” at CCC) was replaced with a 16’ Bassoon stop of limited usefulness. The new Casavant organ was designed primarily to “play church”. It includes a wealth of Diapasons, plenty of color reeds, three sets of strings, percussive effects and two thrilling solo reeds. The effect is meant to ultimately bring to life the word of God and inspire those who come together for worship.